Play Ball! and Beethoven!

May 24, 2011 at 10:18 PM

Well, i lived through playing the Star-spangled Banner at the Fort Worth Cats game on May 15th. Barely. I had walked a 5k the weekend before, and managed to tear a ligament, so my knee was not well. I had to go up and down stairs at the game, and then we waited out on the field in the sun for about 20 minutes. I don't know if they heat had something to do with it, but I though we all sounded out of tune. I was pretty disappointed, and paranoid that I was the one out of tune and completely ruining the song. I've since watched a DVD of it, though, and I don't think so. I also don't think it was as bad as I originally thought.

Still, we were treated nicely and it was a great learning experience to perform in public. I also realized another thing: I don't think I'll ever be that frightened to play again. I have a recital this weekend, and while I have to play alone, I'm not anywhere near as scared. I mess up? I hit a wrong note/ I forget where I am in the music? It's all right. I can deal.

Last week, I went to Meyerson Hall to hear the Dallas Symphony Orchestra do Beethoven's Ninth. Unbelievable. Just incredible. Life changing. Literally. Rather than making me feel inadequate, I think I've played better overall the whole last week than I ever have before. We'll see what happens Saturday. Or on Thursday, when I'll find out if my violin teacher hears the difference.

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